Author Archives: matt

I've designed a new backtrack algorithm for solving tiling problems that I call fixed image list algorithm (FILA). The algorithm is flexible in that it supports various ordering heuristics.1 By using a heuristic that always selects the first open cell, … Continue reading →

I sent a link to my previous blog post on the optimal play of Farkle to Professor Todd Neller, at Gettysburg College. (I thought he might be interested in it since it was largely based on his previous analysis of … Continue reading →

Image by Matt Busche using modified povray source by Piotr Borys Neller and Presser modeled a simple dice game called pig as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) and used value iteration to find the optimal game winning strategy1. Inspired by … Continue reading →

In this post I share a useful programming technique I first saw used twenty-some years ago while reading through some C code. The technique combined aspects of an array and a linked-list into a single data construct. I've here abstracted … Continue reading →

Image by Matt Busche I've implemented a set of backtrack algorithms to find solutions to various polyomino and polycube puzzles (2-D and 3-D puzzles where you have to fit pieces composed of little squares or cubes into a confined space). … Continue reading →

For ten years I’ve thought about replacing the decrepit deck behind my house. I wanted to do something unique to appease my sinful pride. This was the initial concept sketch for my deck consisting of two 15 foot diameter octagons … Continue reading →

I modified my Zilch strategy generation software to model the scoring rules for the Super Farkle game available at Facebook. I wasn’t previously a Facebook user so I created my account just to try out my strategy. Over several days, … Continue reading →

Image by Thunderchild7 Zilch is a fun little dice game codified into an online game by Gaby Vanhegan that can be played at http://playr.co.uk/. Zilch is actually a variation of the game Farkle which goes by several other names including … Continue reading →